Turn off Auto-Enhance / edit on iPhone

Whenever I take a photo on my Iphone 13 Pro, a few seconds after the photo auto enhance, making it look terrible. I notice a change of color, increase of sharpness and crazy shadow lifting.


I've researched and looks like a lot of people have the same issue and no solution.


Any updates, any success stories on solving this?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 15

Posted on Dec 29, 2021 12:50 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 10, 2022 11:28 AM

The auto enhancement is aweful. Apple PLEASE add an option to turn it of or at least make it possible to drastically decrease the effect. The only solution I’ve found for now is to turn off auto HDR in Photos and use Burst mode and take at least 2 pics and use one of those. This is not acceptable!

133 replies

Mar 29, 2022 10:22 PM in response to lecomoura

I have the same issue. Considering returning the phone it’s so bad. None of the above fixes work for me… Apple support have said it’s a known issue and a they can’t help me adjust the settings to solve it, would require a software release. Hope apple fix this soon or I will be returning my phone as the whole reason I bought it was for the camera !

Oct 6, 2023 8:14 AM in response to Rambler67

Rambler67 wrote:

Terrible absolutely brutal. You pay all this money for these phones and they have that in here that you cannot control it. Every photo is a pain in the ***. Thank you Apple. I’ll definitely not be buying a new phone at least not from you people

Apple does not read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:


Product Feedback - Apple


But if you want an Android phone, I say go for it. More iPhones for the rest of us.

Dec 11, 2022 5:27 AM in response to lecomoura

I have exactly the same problem with my iPhone 13. I have to walk around with two iPhones in my pockets - I use my old iPhone XS only to take photos because they’re so much better.

I’m a photographer and it’s absolutely devastating to see your photos being destroyed infront of your eyes with the IPhone 13.


I’ve talked to so many different people from Apple, I went to different apple stores and all of them had no idea how to turn it off. I’ve tried everything!

I wanted to change it to an iPhone 14 because I thought it was only iPhone 13 that had that issue - but I’m chocked when I realised that iPhone 14 also has this auto enhancement.


I was then able to report the issue properly and make a complain where I could send screenshots of the issue and I had a call with people from apple. I told them that it’s absurd that this issue isn’t fixed when people have been complaining about this since the iPhone 13 was realised, and the dude from apple replies “I’m sorry that you think it’s an issue”… (!!!!!!!)


It’s ridiculous that a phone’s camera in 2022 has an auto adjustment that you can’t turn off. Makes ZERO sense.

Aug 26, 2023 8:48 PM in response to lecomoura

This happens for iphone 14 pro max too!! and it´s very disappointing because well it is a very expensive phone and you would expect it to take great pictures, the lenses work just fine actually, it´s the camera app that changes the photos. The only "solution" I could come up with is taking a screenchot of every photo before it is automatically edited so... yeah... that´s pretty much all you can do, Apple you should at least let us choose if we want our pictures edited, please? thanks :)

Jan 6, 2024 12:40 PM in response to lecomoura

To turn off Auto-Enhance or edit photos on an iPhone using the built-in Photos app, follow these steps:


  1. Open Photos App: Launch the "Photos" app on your iPhone.
  2. Select Photo: Choose the photo you want to edit by tapping on it.
  3. Tap "Edit": Once the photo is open, tap the "Edit" button located in the top-right corner of the screen. It looks like three horizontal sliders.
  4. Adjustments and Filters: If Auto-Enhance is enabled, you might see automatic adjustments applied to the photo. To turn off Auto-Enhance or manually adjust settings:
    • Tap the "Magic Wand" icon at the top of the editing options (this is the Auto-Enhance feature).
    • If it's currently on, tap it again to turn off Auto-Enhance. The icon should become white instead of blue.
  1. Manual Editing: To make manual adjustments:
    • Tap the sliders icon (three overlapping circles) to access manual editing options.
    • Adjust settings like Light, Color, and B&W (if applicable) by sliding your finger left or right on the screen.
  1. Undo Changes: If you've made changes and want to revert to the original, tap "Cancel" to discard the edits.
  2. Save Changes: Once you're satisfied with the edits, tap "Done" to save the changes.

This process allows you to turn off Auto-Enhance and manually edit your photos using the native Photos app on your iPhone, providing more control over the final look of your images.

For More visit : https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254875560?answerId=260033687022&sortBy=best#260033687022


Oct 10, 2022 9:27 PM in response to lecomoura

Got my first iPhone 13 after years of Android.. I had chosen 13 mainly for taking pictures . I should say Iam deeply regretting the purchase.. The pictures are horribly smoothed over sharpen and there is no way to toggle off the HDR ..The highlight's and shadows are crushed even skies are blown out at times .. Please fix the camera and give us an option to manually ride the toggles

Mar 13, 2023 2:45 PM in response to lecomoura

It is the most frustrating feature!!! I have a business making portraits out of felt and when I photograph the art the auto enhance makes every little fiber super detailed and changes the look. In person they look so much better. I have to try and edit the images to look more realistic before sharing on social media. This is ridiculous! Added so much more time when all I want is a photo that I get to decide how it appears. There are no settings that work for every image so nothing should be auto on Apples end. The enhancements on this image make it look horrible and in person the art looks softer and more realistic.

Jul 27, 2023 9:46 AM in response to lecomoura

I found a solution for me. I have found if you take off live. And enable “burst” on your phone it won’t alter the photo. The only downside is the burst option you have to take multiple photos instead of just 1. But it works. I have also found if you use the front flash it won’t alter it.


You can find the burst option in settings, go to camera and enable the option “Use Volume Up for Burst.”


When you take your photos make sure you’re using the volume up button on the side of your phone and not the button on the screen. Hold it down for at least 2 seconds and that’s it! I also show below the effects of using burst vs no burst with no editing.


Please vote that this was helpful if it solved your problem




Dec 21, 2023 10:54 PM in response to lecomoura

I’m to the point of throwing my iPhone 13 against a wall due to the incredibly horrible camera on this specific model.


I have over 15,000 pics most taken from other earlier phones. They’re great. The pics from this camera are horrendous. I’ve been to Apple and the Genius Bar twice with no fix. Apparently iPhone 13 is specifically known for the HDR issues and there is NO WAY to shut it off (iPhone 13 Pro doesn’t have the issue) Why would Apple not recall this phone?! Because it’s a hardware issue, software updates do nothing.


Here is the WORST part: the phone will continue post developing ON PICS THAT WERE TAKEN MONTHS AGO and ruin those pics if I simply open the pic in the photos app. Huge, wart-like bubbles on any skin, washed colors, etc. completely ruined hundreds of photos and memories. And I cannot reverse that awful post developing. I don’t have the option of taking RAW photos on this model. I can’t turn off HDR. It’s insane.


Apple is doing nothing about this. Look at the number of people above who “Me too”’d these forums!


Turn off Auto-Enhance / edit on iPhone

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